An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Benjamin Franklin (And a pound of cure is better than a headful of lice.)

In light of many real problems in the world today, head lice is a minor issue. But, if your family has ever fallen victim to this nasty ailment, you'll know what chaos can ensue when you say the word "louse."

As I type, my head feels itchy. Last school year, my little family experienced lice infestation. My poor husband knows I am great with many difficult situations, but this is a whole other animal. Seriously.

So, you just heard the report at school. Head lice is going around. Oh my word! Oh my goodness! Ahhhhhh! So what should you do?

Not panic. It's hard to have a gentle and quiet spirit, but your demeanor can make the difference. It could be a CRISIS or an inconvenience.

Check first. Here's a great blog entry and video for checking for head lice.


Next, if you found it, let's remember: this is doable. Having lice is somewhat of a rite of passage that most families will go through. And yes, my family survived lice. And we will survive if it should be in our home again. I do want to tell you that I'm sorry that this has happened to your family, and it is not fun.

I did the wrong thing first, and then tried some methods that worked. Here are some quick do's and don'ts.

DON'T freak out.

DO realize this will be a process, not a five minute fix.

DON'T stay up until 2 a.m. cleaning just to wake up at 6 a.m. to nit pick.

DO realize lice like heads, not houses.

DON'T use "lice home sprays" that are not made with natural ingredients.

DO vacuum your home and use your dryer on high for 1 hour on stuffed animals and toss pillows. Then put them in garbage bags in the attic so you can keep them out of the way until this is over.

DON'T use permethrin or pyrethrum based lice treatments. (I did and regretted it later after seeing some research on side effects.)Do not use lindane, either!

DO use natural products. These are very easy to find, and I have found them to be much more effective. I will list my favorites at the end of this article.

DON'T use a plastic lice comb.

DO use a steel lice comb. The Terminator Comb is the best.

Here is another do/don't list I like when it comes to lice treatment.

Now, let's watch one of the best videos I've seen on what to do in the first 24 hours of discovering a lice infestation:

As mentioned in this video, olive oil treatment for 8 hours is viable (along with nit picking), and a good first step. But it was not enough to ease my mind. Nit picking is difficult and impossible on your own head, so these other products are VERY helpful.

My favorite tools for getting rid of lice:
I love this Terminator Comb: Terminator comb
Treatment Mousse- This treatment mousse or this mousse or this mousse (I think they are all similar.)
I just ordered Happy Heads treatment/ prevention shampoo for prevention and possible future treatment. It is a once a week precautionary shampoo.
I love this prevention spray from Neonnits.com (It also helps eliminate with enzymes!)
We use California Baby Tea Tree and Lavender Shampoo as an everyday shampoo from Target for the kiddos.
And this Neon Nits Lice Egg Locator Spray in pink was actually FUN for my daughter. She felt like it was a party when I pulled out the pink spray!
Plus: put tea tree oil on a lavender scented dryer sheet when you dry backpacks and coats. Lice don't like either of these scents.


My closest friends will get info overload if they come to me for lice advice. I am an overachiever when it comes to hitting lice with all I have, but all of these products are things you can use without fear of damage to the health of your loved ones.
**Do be aware that tea tree oil may cause respiratory difficulty in some kids (much like any other scented oil.) So use sparingly and not on teeny babies.

The Big Reveal: Julia's Gluten Free Flour Recipe

I have decided to give away my gluten free flour recipe.

I've tried TONS of gluten free products available today. Many of them are gross, and many of them are fine. None of the gluten free flours did everything I desired. What I wanted was a gf flour that could serve my baking needs. I wanted something that behaved like real four and tasted decent. What I came up with is a flour that tastes and behaves similarly to whole wheat. It's not an "all purpose" white flour. It's a "many purpose" flour.

My flour is a bit dense and more complicated than some recipes. The different ingredients have different characteristics. Some are starchy and light. Some are earthy and full-flavored. Some have a bit of elasticity. Together they form "Julia's Gluten Free Flour."

I will be posting recipes for cookies, bread, and pancakes now that I am giving you the groundwork. Bon appetit!



Julia's Gluten Free Flour
4 1/4 cups white rice flour
2 cups teff flour
2 1/4 cups brown rice flour
1 3/4 cups cornstarch*
1 cup potato starch flour
3/4 cup tapioca flour
3 1/2 cups sweet white sorghum flour
14 teaspoons xanthan gum


Quick tip: use finely ground flours. Bob's Red Mill does a great job of grinding their flours. White rice and brown rice flours need to be of a fine consistency. I can't stand grainy particles in my finished products. Be picky and pay for good quality.

*If corn is an issue, you may try replacing the cornstarch with another starch flour. Perhaps more potato starch would work?